Condemns federal efforts aimed at restricting voting and urges federal government to protect Americans' voting rights.*

2026-2027 Regular Session Introduced by Vin Gopal and 5 co-sponsors

New Jersey condemns federal efforts to restrict voting via the 2026 mail-in voting order and the SAVE America Act, urging Congress to reject them and protect voting rights.

Filed with Secretary of State

Overview

Type: Senate Resolution (SR 97)

Session/Jurisdiction: New Jersey, Session 222

Sponsor: Senator John McKeon (co-sponsor)

Purpose: Condemn federal efforts to restrict voting, particularly Executive Order on mail-in voting and the proposed SAVE America Act; reaffirm New Jersey’s commitment to protecting voting rights and urge Congress to reject measures that would restrict eligible citizens’ ability to vote.

Main purpose and intent

Reaffirm and advocate that all eligible U.S. citizens should have the right to vote without undue federal interference that would restrict access.

Strongly condemn President Trump’s March 31, 2026 Executive Order on mail-in voting, which the bill asserts would impose federal controls over state election administration.

Oppose federal legislative proposals like the SAVE America Act, which would require documentary proof of citizenship and stringent photo ID for federal elections, and would tighten in-person registration requirements.

Key provisions and changes

Declarative stance: The resolution states that free, fair, and accessible elections are a core state function and that the Executive Order and SAVE America Act threaten election integrity.

Condemnation and urging action:

Condemns the March 31, 2026 Executive Order on mail-in voting and the federal efforts to control election administration.
Urges Congress to reject federal measures that would prevent eligible U.S. citizens from voting, including the SAVE America Act.

Communications and advocacy:

Directs that copies of the resolution be transmitted to national leaders and lawmakers (President, Vice President, Senate Majority/Minority Leaders, House Speaker/Minority Leader, and each New Jersey member of Congress).

Who/what would be affected

Targeted entities: U.S. federal government actions related to election administration, including:

The Executive Order on mail-in voting (2026)
The SAVE America Act

Impacts for New Jersey: The resolution positions New Jersey as defender of voting rights and signals opposition to federal attempts to restrict voting, with potential implications for bipartisan dialogue and federal-state election policy tensions.

Procedural and timeline aspects

History:

Introduced in the New Jersey Senate and referred to the Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee.
Reported from committee as a Substitute, 2nd Reading, on May 21, 2026 (action history indicates progression toward final floor consideration).

Next steps:

As a resolution, it serves a formal expression of stance rather than creating enforceable law.
If approved, it would be transmitted to federal officials and Congress as a formal rebuke and call for action.

Summary takeaway

SR 97 is a non-binding legislative resolution in New Jersey that condemns federal efforts to restrict voting through the 2026 Executive Order on mail-in voting and the SAVE America Act. It asserts that such measures threaten voting access and underscores New Jersey’s commitment to protecting the voting rights of all eligible citizens. The resolution calls on Congress to reject these federal initiatives and directs dissemination of the resolution to federal leaders and New Jersey’s congressional delegation.